‘Tec’ is triumphant on TV

CONGRATULATORY pats on the shoulder and cries of “great work, champ” and “what a performance” greeted Kian “Tec” Thomas when he arrived at St Pancras Amateur Boxing Club this week following his first appearance on UK TV as a professional fighter.

The emerging welterweight contender stopped Hungarian Ferenc Katona with a bone-shuddering right hook at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.

It was a fierce blow, one that perfectly summed up the devastating display that the 26-year-old Kentish Town boxer had unleashed live on TV for all to see.

Kian said he felt “extremely proud” after appearing on the undercard of the World Boxing Super Series fight night, which was screened on ITV Box Office.

Millions tuned in to see WBA super-middleweight champion George Groves defeat Jamie Cox to set up a showdown with Chris Eubank Jr. And boxing fans watching the build-up bouts could only be impressed by Kian’s ruthless ringcraft.

“I’m happy. I’m happy I got on the undercard. I’m happy my fight was screened live on UK TV. I’m happy I got a knockout. And I’m happy it was in front of so many friends and family who had come to support me. I’m just happy,” beamed Kian after the fight.

“The atmosphere was very different from anything I have experienced before.

“There were cameras in my face, and the craziest thing was there were four giant screens above the ring so I could see myself clear as a day. I kept thinking, ‘oh look, there’s me’.

“Fighting at Wembley was a very proud moment for me,” Kian added. “My dad, my brother, my girlfriend, my cousins, my friends were all there to cheer me on. I’m happy I could put in such a good performance for them.”

Kian was originally meant to be fighting Jamie Carley, but the south Londoner pulled out of the bout late on. Somewhat surprisingly, Carley still featured on the bill.

“The promoter told me Carley didn’t want to fight me, I’m not sure why,” Kian revealed. “He wasn’t injured and still fought on the night – I can only assume he didn’t want to get in the ring with me.

“But I don’t stress about opponents. I just focus on the job that I’ve got to do.”